It’s critical to keep Medicare and Social Security fully funded, they serve as the backbone of economic security for the many retirees and disabled residents of Florida’s 6th Congressional District. With nearly 27% of constituents aged 65 or older, these programs can help prevent senior poverty—particularly vital where local median household income is just over $61,000 and the district poverty rate is around 14%, above state and national averages. Over 60% of residents rely on at least one service such as Social Security, Medicare, VA benefits, or Medicaid. Without reliable funding, older adults would face tough choices between healthcare, housing, and other basic needs—undermining their dignity, stability, and financial security.
How can we keep the programs solvent for future generations, but not raise the retirement age and add any additional tax to the middle class?
- Make the Wealthiest Pay Fairly
- Currently, income above $168,600 is not taxed for Social Security. A CEO making $5 million pays the same as someone making $168k.
- Apply Social Security tax on earnings over $400,000 so the wealthy contribute like everyone else.
- Impact: Covers more than 70% of the long-term shortfall without touching middle-class taxes.
2. Close Loopholes & Curb Overpayments
- Crack down on fraud and improper payments in both Social Security and Medicare.
- Digital modernization for SSA and Medicare billing systems to stop errors before they happen.
- Estimated savings: tens of billions over a decade.
3. End Special Interest Subsidies
- Stop overpayments to Medicare Advantage insurers—currently, the government pays private plans more than traditional Medicare, costing taxpayers billions. Estimated overpayments at 22% to 39% more then traditional Medicare - aprox. $83-$127 billion.
- Negotiate lower drug prices (already started under the Inflation Reduction Act) and expand those negotiations to all high-cost drugs.
4. Target Waste, Not Benefits
- Reinvest savings from Medicare drug negotiations and fraud prevention directly into the trust funds creating room to improve benefits.
- Provide for stronger cost of living adjustments tied to seniors’ real costs (CPI-E).
- Maintain zero benefit cuts.
5. Leverage Economic Growth
- A growing economy means more payroll tax revenue without raising rates.
- Policies that grow jobs and wages (infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing) strengthen Social Security’s funding naturally.
Why This Works
- Protects retirees and working families
- Keeps programs solvent beyond 2075
- No drastic payroll tax hike—just a fairness fix and efficiency improvements